La Mirada polling results on a tax increase

La Mirada officials who think a tax increase will provide needed revenue for street and other improvements received some good news from a poll by Godbe Research of Newport Beach.
Here are some of the key details of the poll.

The company interviewed 502 likely November 2012 voters from Oct. 20-25. Each interview took about 18 minutes. There is a 4.3 percent margin of error.

The poll on support for a one-half percent sales tax showed:
Definitely yes: 30 percent
Probably yes: 33 percent
Definitely no: 20 percent
Probably no: 15 percent
Don’t know: 2 percent

The poll on support for a one-quarter percent sales tax showed:
Definitely yes: 42 percent
Probably yes: 24 percent
Definitely no: 19 percent
Probably no: 11 percent
Don’t know: 4 percent

The poll on support for a utility users showed:
Definitely yes: 19 percent
Probably yes: 31 percent
Definitely no: 33 percent
Probably no: 11 percent
Don’t know: 4 percent

The poll on support for increasing the existing business license tax by $50 for most small businesses and $1,000 for most large businesses showed:
Definitely yes: 21 percent
Probably yes: 26 percent
Definitely no: 31 percent
Probably no: 13 percent
Don’t know: 9 percent

The poll identified important issues on a scale of three with 0 being not at all important, one, somewhat important, two, very important and three, extremely important.
Here are the ratings:
Maintaining police services, 2.4
Protecting local property values, 2.3
Maintaining city streets, 2.2
Maintaining sewers and storm drains, 2.1
Preventing local tax increases, 2
Maintaining sidewalks/curbs/gutters/trees, 2
Maintaining city parks/recreational services/facilities, 2
Maintaining cultural/performing arts programs, 1.5

The poll also looked at attitudes on economic outlook:
About the same: 55 percent
Better: 22 percent
Worse: 20 percent
Don’t know: 4 percent
Source: Godbe Research

John DiMario, former La Mirada official now working for South Gate

Put this in the where are they now category:
John DiMario, the former La Mirada assistant city manager, is the new economic development manager in South Gate, according to Jack Simpson’s newsletter, http://www.trackdownmanagement.net/newsletters/2010-5.pdf.

DiMario left La Mirada in 2007 after working for the city since 1989. He grew up in La Mirada, began his career with the city as a part-time maintenance worker, and was hired full time in 1989 as an administrator’s aide in the Community Resources Department. He became assistant city manager in 2001, taking charge of community development, including building, planning and redevelopment.

After leaving La Mirada, he went to La Palma where he was director of community development and later went to Bellflower before going to South Gate.

Listen to the music

Local concert-goers may not know that there is a great venue to catch live shows in our own back yard at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. Sure it’s known for putting on great kids’ shows and other family-friendly fare. 

But you don’t have to go to L.A. to experience a top-notch live music venue. It has great acoustics, and is cozy enough to have a great view from any seat in the house.
Check out some photos from the March 13 performance from The Young Dubliners:
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City budget season

Budget season for local cities is just about over, but don’t be surprised if many of our local cities keep an eye on them. In the next week, La Habra Heights, La Mirada and Whittier city councils are expected to approve them.

For La Habra Heights and La Mirada officials, their budgets are balanced, but just barely. On the other hand, Whittier’s general fund budget projects a $1.2 million deficit that will be made up with the use of reserves. La Habra Heights City Council will study its city budget at a special 6 p.m. Monday meeting. La Mirada and Whittier city councils are expected to approve their budgets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday meetings.

Historic signing

The “Workers’ Register and Articles of Faith,” popularly known as the “Red Book,” is being signed at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9 at Biola University’s Calvary Chapel.

It is signed annually in December by the Board of Trustees at a private meeting. However, this year on the heels of Biola’s 100th anniversary, the event will be open to the public and each signing hereafter will be open to the Biola community.

Over the last eighty years Biola’s leaders, such as Louis Talbot, Charles Fuller, Lula Stewart and founder T.C. Horton, have signed the book as an affirmation of Biola’s core values and commitment to the University’s mission.

The ceremony has only been public one other time, twenty-five years ago during Biola’s seventy-fifth anniversary.

For information, contact events@biola.edu

DUI crackdown this Saturday

     Deputies from the La Mirada Community Sheriff’s station will hold a DUI checkpoint on Jan. 3.

     It is part of the state’s Holiday DUI Crackdown Campaign. Funding is courtesy of a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

     Deputies are also asking the public to call 9-1-1 and report drunk drivers. Be prepared to describe the vehicle, its location and direction of travel.

     For more information, call the La Mirada Community Sheriff’s Station at (562) 902-2960.

Fundraiser for hit-and-run victim

     A fundraiser to benefit a 15-year-old La Serna High School student injured by a hit-and-run driver will be held from 4 to 9 p.m., Thursday at Southern California Pizza, 12259 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.

     All proceeds will go to the Arianna Varela Fund which will pay for her medical expenses. A family member said Varela was recently transferred from UC Irvine Medical Center to HealthBridge Children’s Hospital in Orange where she is undergoing rehabilitation.

     “She’s doing really, really good,” said her aunt, Catherine Del Ferraro.

     On Oct. 3, Varela crossed the street to attend her school’s homecoming game held at Cal High. A driver hit her and didn’t stop. He or she hasn’t been found.

Officials release name of driver killed in La Mirada crash

     Officials with the Orange County Coroner’s Office released today the name of the driver killed in a 2-car crash in La Mirada.

     Bret Hawman, 50, of La Mirada died of his injuries yesterday at UC Irvine Medical Center.

     The collision happened at 6:21 p.m., Monday on Rosecrans Avenue and Jalon Road in La Mirada. Sheriff’s Lt. Mark Wilkins said one driver was heading east on Rosecrans Avenue and the second driver was turning on Jalon Road from westbound Rosecrans.